SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION OF PEDICULUS HUMANUS CAPITIS SPECIES AMONG WOMEN ATTENDING LOCAL HAIR SALOON IN EBONYI L.G.A

The study on spatial distribution and epidemiology of Pediculus humanus capitis was conducted on women attending local saloons at Ishieke market area. A total of nine hairdressers saloons and local barber shop were sampled between January to June 2024 comprising four hundred and forty-five individuals using standard entomological technique of hand picking and combining methods to collect adult and nymphal stages of pediculus species. The study revealed that a total of five hundred and eighty adult lice were infested by 221 individuals. The result showed that miss Angela’s shop 41 (18.55 %) recorded the highest number of individual infestations. The distribution of lice by occupation showed that students of tertiary institution 56(25.33 %) are recorded with the highest prevalence of infestation while individuals between the ages of 16-22 yrs 51(23.07 %) is recorded with the highest infestation rate. Floxy Beauty saloon had the highest prevalence of lice infestation 126 (21.72 %). The study revealed that the infestation rate could be controlled through the application of kerosene for 60 minute, alcohol for ten minute and sodium bicarbonate for 60 minute to kill the adult lice and alter the reproduction of nymphs. Therefore, the resurgence of pediculus lice could be associated with unhygienic carriage of braided hairs among young people and this can be controlled through personal hygiene and pediculicide.